At the start of the year, Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC) was riding a wave of optimism, as shares had run ahead by almost 45% since early October, fueled by a presidential result that likely meant less regulation in the financial industry. BofA is hardly alone, as mega-cap rivals JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) and Wells Fargo & Co (NYSE:WFC) have cooled off as well. The question is, is the muted year the reality we face, or is this just an opportunity to jump on before BAC stock takes off again?